The dominant theory in economics for centuries in the Western world has been the free market system, yet the ability of competitive markets to provide quality care has been a central point of recent debate. Extensive government regulation, though well-intentioned, adversely affects the overall health of Americans, inhibits medical innovation, and demands enormous tax-payer investment. The Initiative on Enabling Choice and Competition in Healthcare delivers cutting edge research on the efficiencies of competitiveness in the healthcare sector to demonstrate that free market forces can and do work to provide innovative, equitable, and high-quality care.
Our Vision
To be the leading university-based research center in free-market healthcare, promoting choice and competition to ensure greater access to existing care and new innovations.
Our Mission
To conduct evidence-based research and analyses on market-based choice and competition in the healthcare sector to lead to better-informed policy recommendations.
Working Papers
Policy Brief: The Potentially Larger Than Predicted Impact of the IRA on Small Molecule R&D and Patient Health
This policy brief analyzes the impact of regulatory and legislative changes within the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on medical R&D and patient health with respect to small molecule drugs. Initial evidence potentially suggests that the cutbacks in R&D have...
Policy Brief: The Value of Multi-Cancer Early Detection Tests and Limits to Estimating Budget Impacts of Legislation Proposed to Enable Medicare Access
This policy brief reviews the evidence on the health and cost impacts of multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests, and the implications for proposed legislation to enhance their utilization in Medicare. We find that the evidence base suggests that MCED screening...
Evaluating the Economic Impact of CMS coverage Delays for New Alzheimer’s Drugs
Historically, Medicare has reimbursed drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) including drugs granted accelerated approval. In 2021, FDA granted accelerated approval to plaque-targeting treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the Centers for...
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In the Press
Public Health Still Needs an Economics Transfusion | National Review | 03/21/2024
By Tomas J. Philipson & Casey B. Mulligan March 21, 2024 Public health frequently trivializes prevention costs, and therefore misjudges...
COVID Lessons Learned: A Retrospective After Four Years | Committee to Unleash Prosperity | 03/15/2024
By Scott W. Atlas, Steve H. Hanke, Philip G. Kerpen, and Casey B. Mulligan March 2024 Executive Summary This report reviews the major policy...
The White House Wants to Double Dip on Drug Rebates | RealClearHealth | 03/15/2024
By Tomas Philipson March 15, 2024 As part of its "Strike Force on Unfair and Illegal Pricing," the White House just doubled down on a December plan...
2024 ECCHC Supply-Side Economics in Healthcare Conference – Watch Now!
The 2024 ECCHC Supply-side Economics in Healthcare Conference convened both in-person and virtually on Friday, May 3. Watch the full conference, or individual presentations and learn more about the conference here!